Get Away From the Crowd at This New Beach Camping Site in Mindoro

The island of Mindoro, just off the coast of Batangas, is well known for the white beaches of Puerto Galera. Because of its proximity to Metro Manila, it draws big crowds, especially on weekends. It's a good thing that Oriental Mindoro has other destinations worth checking out, such as the equally beautiful coast of Pinamalayan in the central part of the province. There's also a new place for weekend warriors called the El Dionisio Paraiso White Beach Resort and Camping Site, which opens on March 29.

Guests can opt to stay just a day for P150, inclusive of the use of tables, the public grill, and restrooms. You can also book a kayak (P30 or P50) or an inflatable raft (P500 for six people). For overnighters, a fee of P1,700 gets you four meals, a tent with a mattress and pillows, and free use of all resort amenities. Not bad for a laid-back island experience!

How to get there: From Batangas Pier, you can take the Fastcraft (P250 to P350) or Roro (P200 to P250) to Calapan Pier. This takes about an hour. From Calapan, ride a van bound for Pinamalayan (P100, two hours), then ride a tricycle to El Dionisio Paraiso (P40, 20 minutes).